Battling Boy

Paul Pope is one of comics' most respected and versatile talents. Over the past three decades, he's produced an amazing body of work, from his breakthrough self-published THB series to a number of acclaimed projects for DC/Vertigo. Last October, he unleashed his long-awaited Battling Boy graphic novel, which became a bestseller and won "Best Publication For Teens" at the Eisners last month. This coming September, First Second will publish the first of three tie-in volumes, The Rise Of Aurora West, written by Pope and J.T Petty, with art by David Rubin.

We sat down with Pope at the First Second booth at San Diego Comic-Con, the morning after the Eisners ceremony, and had a wide-ranging conversation about his creative inspirations, the changing face of the comics market, and his new and upcoming projects.

The 2014 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards ceremony took place Friday 25th July in the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, as part of San Diego Comic-Con. It was a good night for Saga, Hawkeye, and the Hernandez brothers. Presenters included Orlando Jones, Reginald Hudlin, Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick, Sergio Aragonés, Phil LaMarr, and Kevin Eastman. ComicsAlliance has a full list of winners, as well as the other nominees in each category.

The ink is barely dry on writer/artist Paul Pope's new all-ages graphic novel Battling Boy, but just like that, a prequel is on the way.

The Rise of Aurora West, which tells the story of one of Battling Boy's allies, the daughter of science hero Haggard West, is set for release in July 2014. Pope will have some help on the book this time. J.T. Petty will co-write it with him and it'll be drawn by artist David Rubin.

Paul Pope has cultivated a lot of street cred for his work outside of comics. He’s worked for Spin, Complex, Wired and GQ, designed clothing for DKNY and posters for the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and he even deejays on the side. In Battling Boy, hisfirst original graphic novel since 2007, he reminds everyone that when he’s not working in fashion design, magazine illustration, or dropping dope-ass beats, he’s one of the most gifted comics creators on the planet, whose every pen-stroke deserves our rapt attention. The first of a two-volume story from First Second, Battling Boy combines superhero comics with pulp sci-fi and kaiju manga in a coming-of-age adventure about the son of a god, the daughter of a dead hero, and a city full of monsters.

Arguably the most anticipated comic of 2013, Paul Pope's Battling Boy finally arrived in stores today. The story of a dead hero, a 12-year-old demigod and a city full of monsters, Battling Boy represents Pope's return to creator owned comics, and is his first original graphic novel in six years. Its release is a big moment for First Second, and in a clever and effective bit of promotion, the publisher has spent the week leading up to today hyping the book with images featuring art from the story above quotes from comic creators, writers, and critics alike.

One of the most anticipated releases of 2013 is Battling Boy, Paul Pope's first original graphic novel since 2007's Batman: Year 100. Seemingly brimming with adventure, excitement and Pope's singularly fantastic imagery, the book takes place in a world where monsters hunt children and where the greatest hero of all, Haggard West, is dead, leaving 12-year-old Battling Boy to save Acropolis. Check out a video trailer and eight-page preview.

Not a dream, not a hoax - Paul Pope's imaginary story Battling Boy has been scheduled for release by First Second Books three years after everyone had initially expected it, finally giving comics fans a chance to see the character that comics savant Pope describes as "the Superman we need for today."

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